Residential Panels

gr electric

how come residential panels ain't like commercial where the grounds are separeted from neutrals, shouldn't they be separate?

CNC

they are, Main panels Share a common ground/neutral bus. Sub panels separate the neutral and ground.

Bkessler

Your not working on your own are you GR? Looking at a couple of your previous posts seems like your a little inexperienced. To be changing out panels on your own.

Waco

residential panels generally have two bus bars with a link connecting them and a grounding screw that bonds them to the panel when it is tightened or installed. This is typical of Seimans which is what I generally use, but I'm sure Square D, GE, and CH are similar.

When used as a subpanel, install the bonding screw, but remove the link.

Most commercial I've worked on have a Distribution panel which means the downstream panels are all sub-panels with separated neutrals and grounds.

Speedy Petey

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this.


To answer the "question" though, mot bigger commercial installations typically have an MDP. If you are not sure what this is it is a Main Distribution Panel.
This MDP has all the "main" breakers for the branch circuit panels, so most lighting and power panels are sub-panels.

__________________

Bkessler

Yeah as things slow down a bit I am a little more touchy with all these hacks running around.

Waco

everybody was a hack at one time or another.

Bkessler

speak for yourself

Waco

You were born knowing this stuff? Impressive.

Bkessler

No why do you assume that. But I did learn from a very experience electrician and immediately cared about what I was doing. I learned if I was a hack no one would want to hire me. I learned if I was a hack I would be ridiculed by the guys that worked with me. You see I grew up playing sports and have always wanted to be the best at what I do. I was born knowing how to sht my pants and cry. I learned to become a good electrician.

Speedy Petey

I agree. Speak for yourself.



Exactly!

__________________

jbfan

NO! But I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night!














Couldn't resist

__________________
We are the people (our parents warned us about) (Jimmy Buffett)

JohnJ0906

Neutrals and EGCs are separate in all panels, except the main service entrance, and at a SDS, (Separately derived system)
In a house, the panel is often the main service disconnect as well, therefore the neutrals and grounds are together. In any downstream panels ("sub panels"), the EGCs and neutrals are separate.

In commercial, the panels are generally not the main service, so the EGCs are separate.

Also, please keep in mind that the EGC-to-neutral bond at the main disconnect or SDS is the ground fault path to source.

__________________
John from Baltimore
"One Day at a Time"
All replies based on the 2008 NEC

Waco

I didn't "assume" that, you implied that. Everybody has to learn and from experienced electricians, if possible. You did, I did, we all did, but that doesn't mean we were always doing work with all the understanding we might have had. Does trying make one a hack?

I have no problem with people asking questions. At least they are sharp enough to ask.